Winter pressures continue at the Hospital

The Hospital and Jersey’s Ambulance Service continue to be very busy due to winter pressures and the Hospital is currently in an escalation status of Amber.

Islanders are being reminded only to come to the General Hospital’s Emergency Department if they are requiring emergency care, and for non-urgent care, to visit their GP.

As a result of bed pressures, which are occurring in hospitals across the UK, a small amount of non-urgent elective surgery was cancelled today (Wednesday).

Health and Community Services apologises to patients who have been affected by cancellations and would like to reassure them that their operations will be rescheduled as soon as possible. All elective surgery is being reviewed on a daily basis.

Day Surgery operating lists have not been affected but those patients whose operations will require them to stay in hospital will be kept updated as far as is possible. 　　

While the hospital is not experiencing an outbreak of norovirus, we know there are some cases of norovirus and norovirus like illness in the community. Individuals who have symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting are asked to not attend the Hospital to help reduce the risk of infection. If they are concerned about their symptoms, they are asked to contact their GP.

All individuals who visit the Hospital are reminded of the importance of good hand hygiene. If a patient has an outpatient appointment that they need to re-schedule due to illness, they should phone the number on the appointment letter and the appointment will be rescheduled.

In addition, and consistent with this time of year there is a seasonal increase of respiratory illness. Patients who are at risk from flu who should have had the seasonal flu vaccine but those who have not yet been vaccinated should approach their GP/Pharmacy to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Jersey continues to perform extremely well in managing seasonal pressures when compared to the UK position. UK hospitals have also been experiencing significant bed pressures, and, have had to cancel a significant of number of operations with many UK hospitals at the highest level of escalation status which is ‘black alert’.

Rob Sainsbury, Group Managing Director for Health and Community Services, said: "I would like to thank all colleagues in Health and Community Services who are working extremely hard in caring for patients and I thank them for their continued hard work and professionalism."